Ken Reed was 20 when the Three Ws strutted their stuff at Workington in 1951.
A cricket fan, and club stalwart for most of his life, Ken reluctantly admits he can’t remember much about one of the most famous games played in the town.
“I’d been down since I was a boy with my dad who played for the second team – and I’ve been involved since then.
“To be truthful I can’t remember much about the game. I think I was too preoccupied with the thought of starting my national service in two week’s time.
“What I do recall is a decent crowd watching and there were a few sixes.
“I know everyone talks about one of the sixes hit by Clive Walcott. My dad used to say that it struck halfway up the tower on the old brewery, which was quite a hit.
“I do have a scorecard from the game which has been filled in and shows the big contributions from Walcott, Everton Weekes and Sonny Ramadhin.”
Later when Ken’s own boy started playing at Workington he used to go down and watch – and soon he was involved in work around the ground.
“Stan Millership used to do the wicket in those days and when he saw me hanging around he asked me to give him a hand and I’ve been helping to do it ever since,” he says.
He used to assist Barry Parker and Ray Laws before taking on responsibilities himself.
“I’ve got to be honest and say that after my wife died it was going down the cricket club that got me through.
“It was really the arrival of COVID which made-up my mind to retire, but I’ve enjoyed my time at the club,” he says.
Indeed, now aged 90, Ken’s contribution to Workington cricket club – despite really only playing knock-out cricket – has been phenomenal.
A Workington supporter contacted the Cumbria Crack to sing the praises of the veteran groundsman.
He wrote: “Sitting with him over time I realised how much ground care entailed and how much time he committed.
“From what I gather Ken had worked alongside his friends Barry Parker (a prominent county cricketer for Cumberland) and Raymond Laws over the years on the ground. Both had passed away but Ken carried on at the ground most mornings during the week and often week-end mornings. He was more than often working away unaccompanied.
“It was a sad day for Workington Cricket Club when Ken decided to call it a day. He was of the old school and certainly didn’t want any fuss on his retirement. That’s the type of bloke he is.
“He is now 90 years old and although he has retired from head groundsmen at Workington Cricket Club he is still available to give his successors invaluable advice.
“Ken is one of the hardest working men I have ever come across in sport. He addressed the problems of preparing and repairing the wickets with the knowledge of a full time paid groundsman.
“It must have been hard for him to retire after all those years as the hours he must have spent on the ground would be unbelievable. He even went to the ground to let the brewery wagon in.
“He was responsible for the playing area and did numerous other tasks which are far too many to mention. He kept the machinery going on a very tight budget and often did the machinery repairs himself to save the club money. Ken was very aware of the clubs financial commitments and did everything he could to keep costs to a minimum.
“If Ken had been younger he would have carried on forever. He still goes down to the cricket ground a couple of times a week for a crack with friends and a cup of tea, biscuits and cake when available.
“It is impossible to estimate how many hours spent on the Valentine ground but the valuable work and support Ken gave the club and all the players that have played should never be forgotten.
“We hear of a lot of unsung heroes and Ken has been one who has excelled in his devotion to Workington Cricket Club and in turn Cumbria Cricket.”
Can you remember one of Workington’s most famous matches? Read the full story here.
